Ling Skincare

This is the best facial I’ve ever had. Kanella was my aesthetician and from the beginning she was charming and kind and welcoming. Her skills are unmatched. I have had many facials in my life and have always naturally dreaded extractions. I barely felt the extractions! It was the most relaxing, beautifully rhythmic and excellent facial I’ve had. The spa is lovely and petite and is flawless down to every detail. I left with clear, glowing skin, no redness or irritation or tightness I felt like my skin could breathe for the first time in a long time. Kanella recommended a skin care régime for me which I have followed religiously and now my skin is better than it’s been in my entire life. Can’t wait to be back!!!

I went here during spa week and my esthetcian was very savvy about skincare and definitely took the extra care and time to do extractions when it wasn’t a part of the charcoal facial treatment. She did try and sell me other packages while I was there and that’s the only reason why I am not giving it 5 stars. However, the treatment itself was SO therapeutic! The cooling mask felt like it was doing wonders and I must say that when I looked in the mirror, I could actually see my skin glowing. She applied a serum at the end and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of my face! I usually complain about shine but this was shine on a different level. The place is super cozy and well-​kept with soothing music, red satin robes, and the receptionist was really pleasant. I will go back in a heart beat!

I have been going to Equinox for facials for years but my esthetician left so I had to find something else. I discovered Ling products accidentally and they have been wonderful so I figured that I would try the actual spa and get a facial to see what it was like. I had a pretty nice experience. I would recommend the location and Georgette. She was very good and calm and did not press me to buy anything I didn’t want. I am aware that I would’ve had a much longer lasting facial glow if I had spent a little bit more money. She did a nice job and I think I will go back although to be honest, I do think a glycolic facial does a lot more than a regular one which is what I had. If I can afford a glycolic facial, I will upgrade and get that next time. The only issue I have is that a basic facial at Ling is equal to the more expensive facial at Equinox which is kind of lame. One other point in comparison is that At Ling, she put a mask on and left the room while it dried and then another later and left the room while it dried where as at Equinox, they did a massage during the mask process and never left the room. At Ling, she did a light massage in the beginning which was nice to ease me into a relaxed state of mind. I prefer when they stay with you the whole time and do massage throughout but I guess it’s personal preference. Not a good or bad point.

A bit smaller than their 16^th st location, but just as beautiful and calming. friendly staff.
I can’t get enough of their Tripple peel facial, theres no downtime and my face looks amazing and fresh afterwards. I’m usually hesitant on extractions because i don’t want to be walking around with a red face, but somehow extractions here are soothing and they have a Vitamin-​K serum that calms my skin, and minimizes inflammation.
I love their travel kits, really convient for me since im always traveling and reasonable price, I’d get that if you wanted to see what their line was about.

I love this place! I just went back for a facial at the UWS location, where I’ve gone before but not for the past two or three years (as in, I’ve not had a facial for the past couple of years except for maybe a very lame vacation resort one!) It was so great to see that Wendy is still there and to be reminded of what a really great facial is. In addition to the usual steam, cleansing, toning etc. they do a wonderful massage technique around your face and extractions. They also do microdermabrasion. If they don’t have an appointment right after yours, they’ll go beyond the standard/​advertised time for the facial. I’ve never felt pressured to purchase a lot of products and it really is OK if you don’t want to buy any.

Look, I like high end quality type atmospheres and this place is meh in comparison BUT the quality of the very pricey facial I got was worth it. I have perfect skin no ifs ands or buts about it. Due to the vascillating weather I began to accumulate clogged pores near my chin. Wendy was the person with whom I worked. She is no nonsense and honest. I really appreciated the work she did. I am getting married in a few months and she told me if I maintain the routine she suggested (which was not a truckload of product) then I would not need another high end facial. I like the truth. Amen.

I just had my first facial at Ling Skincare. My esthetician was Wei. She was very knowledgeable and gave me a great facial.
The rooms at Ling are nice and cozy. Not super luxurious but very comfortable.
I went in with a voucher from Gilt City but did upgrade to a diamond microdermabrasion. This was suggested by Wei but I did not feel pressured into upgrading. She did recommend some products for me (but wasn’t pushy about it) and I bought one of them. I also got some free samples.
I loved the tea they serve you.
Overall it was a great experience and I will most likely go back.

Wendy is super-​cool and funny. She’s also brutally honest — «your skin, not so good». Yeah, living off of coffee and sleep deprivation will do that to ya. She’s very professional and meticulous. I mean, she put all previous facials I’ve ever had to shame. She zapped every single part of my face, even parts I never knew existed!
I highly recommend Wendy.
My only complaints are 1) the price (of course, I get that Ling is pretty upscale based on its location and reputation, but can’t they provide some discount, especially since they’re the ones recommending expensive procedures? 2) along with the price, the paltry samples! what’s up with that? at least provide some substantial samples. They ran out of them when I was there. 3) not a fan of the person working at the front desk. A bit snobbish and un-​friendly.
Still, I recommend this place, if you can afford it. My skin looked great after a few days.

I have problematic skin (aka acne).
I’ve gone to the dermatologist, who gave me a once-​over and prescribed Retin-​A.
This proved to be too harsh for my skin.
Then, I met Jenny.
Jenny spent the time to really look at my skin and the underlying factors contributing to my adult acne. She realized that I had been drying out my skin with an overusage of products & underusage of moisturaizer.
It’s a bit pricey here, but if you make an appt during spa week, it’s really a great deal. And, a nice way to treat yourself.

I scheduled an appointment for an IPL photofacial and was told over the phone that if it was my first time, they may want me to have a facial on the first visit to get my skin in shape — whatever.
I got there and was taken in right away. I saw Wendy who was nice, if a little chatty.
She looked at my skin and told me that it was beautiful and perfect (which is fairly accurate). I wanted the IPL laser for some very minor fine lines on my forehead, nasolabial creases, and a smattering of light freckles across my nose and cheeks — sun damage from when I used to lay out in my early 20’s.
In truth these flaws are never noticeable to others (people look like I’m crazy when I mention it), but I know they’re there and I want them gone.
Wendy proceeded to give me a facial while telling me repeatedly what great perfect skin I have. Naturally, I assumed this meant I had passed the skin test and my IPL treatment (what I was really there for) would be happening.
When it was time for extractions she spent maybe a minute or two as there wasn’t really anything for her to pick at. She convinced me to get the add-​on eye treatment which she said is good for puffiness and dark circles — again, I barely have these and usually skip add-​ons like these but I thought, why not, maybe I’ll see a noticeable change since I’m in pretty good shape to begin with.
The facial itself was ok. It took about 90 minutes and included two different masks. I didn’t notice any huge difference in my skin by the end — it was a little softer and smoother but this could have been accomplished with an at home exfoliation and moisturizer. As for the add-​on eye treatment — guess what? My undereye area looked exactly the same.
When the facial was over, I asked if we’d be starting the IPL next and she told me no, if you want that you have to come back in two weeks. WTF? She said the reason was she wanted to clean my skin first but even by her standards my skin was already clean!
I went to the front desk to pay, they tried to push their products on me, I declined and I left. Wendy literally ran out of the store after me down the block to get me to come back and schedule an appointment for the IPL! When I said no, she offered me 20% off. I told her I’d think about it and walked away.
This is a no frills place. There’s no extended arm/​hand and neck massage during the facial, no soft music playing, and the rooms are tiny. If you have bad skin, and by that I mean skin that would require a lot of extractions, they probably do a good job (based on the reviews I’ve read). But if you have average to above average skin, you don’t need to come here and spend over $ 200 on a facial that doesn’t offer the perks of relaxation.

Top notch facials in a pretty part of Union Square…
I have been going to Ling for the past 3 years and I honestly don’t think I’ll ever go anywhere else for a facial. I have gone to three different aestheticians — they have all been very different from each other, but all equally amazing at what they do. I personally like HJ and Mary (who I went to for the first time today). Mary spent about 75% doing extractions, which is the main reason I go to get facials — she got every single blackhead out of those nasty nooks and crannies — I think I’ll have baby butt skin for the next two months!!!
Yes, Ling is expensive, but try to find a place that gives you glowing skin, a soothing atmosphere, and an honestly amazing line of facial care products…
A plus!

I’m a believer! Took me 7 long years to find this gem in the city. What I love about their facials is that they take some time to massage your face (which is a very eastern thing). European facialist do this, but not as intensely. The products are so hydrating and Wendy (who is amazing) takes the extra step of putting a cold towel over the mask so the skin absorbs the nutrient-​rich ginseng mask. My skin feels so soft in the dull winter months.

Ling was a pioneer in the NYC skin care game back in the Marcia Kilgore actually gave facials at bliss days. A close friend and estetiques classmate of mine worked here and learned alot.
After all these years, it’s still a great place to get a no-​bull facial.

Omg! I just had the most amazing facial and microdermabrasion session that lasted 2 hr. It was my first time there and my aesthetician Wendy was very sweet and she was not pushy at all with products. She asked me what i use daily and told me that I am using great products and i should stick with it. I have to say i feel really really clean after the facial and she was sooooo good with extraction!!! My skin feels like a baby skin now and I couldn’t be happier. My only thing is that it is def on the expensive side and cost me 500 for facial and microdermabrasion.

Just had an amazing facial at Ling Skin care, very basic spa with little perks, but as a former mario badescu devotee I’m used to the no-​frills approach. Mario Badescu is a lot cheaper but I eventually tired of the crowded waiting room and sub par staff. I found Grace (my aesthetician) to be very nice, competent and not too pushy with products. She definitely talked a little too much about skincare during the facial for my taste, but perhaps it was because it was my first time there and my skin was a disaster. I walked out glowing from the herbal facial and micro dermabrasion an hour and a half later and my skin is looking better by the minute. I definitely plan to return!